
The New South Wales government has unveiled a new practice standard for professional engineers, aiming to enhance work and behavioural standards across the engineering profession in the state.
The standard, mandated under the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020, is set to be implemented from 1 September 2024, applying to all professional engineers registered under the Act.
This new standard sets out mandatory minimum work and behavioural standards for NSW engineers, with failure to comply potentially resulting in fines and the suspension or cancellation of registration.
Key features of the standard include the requirement that designs must be fit for purpose, on-site inspections during the construction phase of a project, and new requirements regarding independent third-party reviews.
It also reinforces the importance of the existing Code of Practice for professional engineers and provides clarity regarding supervision requirements.
While Engineers Australia supports the NSW government’s efforts to improve building outcomes and standards, they have expressed disappointment that their concerns regarding the practice standard were not fully addressed.
Engineers Australia believes that the standard places unrealistic obligations on individual employee engineers and does not adequately distinguish between individual engineers and the businesses that employ them.
In response to this, Engineers Australia continues to advocate for clear requirements that reflect the practice and responsibilities of individual engineers, particularly concerning their employers, to ensure that NSW remains an attractive place for professional engineering work in the building industry.
Engineers Australia encourages its members to make their voices heard and respond directly to the NSW government if they have questions or concerns about the requirements outlined in the standard.
In the interim, Building Commission NSW inspectors will use the new practice standard for audits of professional engineering work before it becomes mandatory.
This phased approach is intended to support the industry in adapting to the new requirements.